Herodian

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Herodian (Greek Herodianos , Latin Herodianus , German Herodian ; * probably around 175, † probably around 250) was a Greek-speaking Roman historian of the outgoing principate . Presumably he came from Syria or Asia Minor . Perhaps he was an imperial freedman who worked in the lower administration. He wrote a history work in eight books over the years from 180 to 238. The presentation ranges from the death of Emperor Mark Aurel and the accession of Commodus to the beginning of the reign of Emperor Gordian III. The focus is on the history of the Severans .

Herodian's historical work with the title History of the Empire according to Mark Aurel (Greek Τῆς μετὰ Μάρκον βασιλείας ἱστορία ) has traditionally been viewed very critically in research. It has even been called "more of a historical novel than a work of history". In fact, it is not reliable, especially in the earlier sections, since Herodian did not carefully check all of his sources and apparently also invented some details, especially since he would hardly have had access to official files. From today's perspective, it is seen as moralizing - for example through its reference to Marcus Aurelius, who is stylized as the ideal emperor - and tendentious; However, the work is also considered multi-faceted and is not without its charm in literary terms. The value of the report on Elagabal is now sometimes valued higher than that of Cassius Dio . Mostly, however, it is assumed with Frank Kolb that Herodian was largely dependent on Cassius Dio for the description of the events up to 228/29, but this is not undisputed in recent research.

In other respects, too, Herodian is a not unimportant source, especially for the time after 229; Since Dio's work is not completely preserved, this also applies in part to the years before. At the same time, however, Herodian's work poses various problems for research into ancient history. His information should therefore always be treated with great caution, even if in recent times the opinion has been held that Herodian's work basically differs less than assumed from that of other ancient historians and, if used cautiously, offers important information.

Late ancient historians such as Ammianus Marcellinus and the unknown author of the Historia Augusta used Herodian as a source. When exactly Herodian's work was created is unclear; it was probably only after the death of Emperor Gordian III. (244), but not much later. A connection with the 1000th anniversary of Rome in 248 is possible, but an origin around 260 is also discussed. It is often assumed that Herodian himself had experienced the rule of Commodus, with which his portrayal begins. At the end of the period dealt with by Herodian, a phase of Roman history up to Ammianus Marcellinus begins, about which we only know from late and largely much more unreliable historical works, but not from contemporary reports.

Editions and translations

  • Carlo M. Lucarini (Ed.): Herodianus: Regnum post Marcum. Saur, Munich / Leipzig 2005, ISBN 3-598-71282-0 (authoritative critical edition)
  • Friedhelm L. Müller (translator): Herodian. History of the empire after Marc Aurel . Stuttgart 1996 (not entirely error-free edition and translation)
  • Adolf Stahr (translator): Herodian's history of the Roman Empire since Marc Aurel . Stuttgart 1858 ( online )
  • Charles R. Whittaker (Ed.): Herodian ( Loeb Classical Library ). 2 volumes, Heinemann, London 1969–1970 (Greek text with excellent introduction, English translation and commentary)

literature

  • Géza Alföldy : Contemporary history and feelings of crisis in Herodian . In: Geza Alföldy: The crisis of the Roman Empire. Selected contributions . Stuttgart 1989, pp. 273-294.
  • Martin Zimmermann : Emperor and Event. Studies on the historical work of Herodian . Munich 1999 ( Vestigia , vol. 52).
  • Martin Zimmermann: Herodian's construction of history and his view of the urban Roman people . In: Martin Zimmermann (Ed.): Historiography and political change in the 3rd century AD Stuttgart 1999, pp. 119–143.
  • Thomas Hidber: Herodian's presentation of the imperial history after Marc Aurel . Basel 2006 (Swiss Contributions to Classical Studies, Vol. 29).
  • Lukas de Blois: Third Century Crisis and the Greek Elite in the Roman Empire . In: Historia 33 (1984), pp. 358-377.
  • Lukas de Blois: Emperor and Empire in the Works of Greek-speaking Authors of the Third Century AD In: Rise and Decline of the Roman World Vol. II.34.4 (1998), pp. 3391-3443.

Web links

Wikisource: Herodian  - Sources and full texts

Remarks

  1. ↑ Géza Alföldy : Contemporary history and crisis sensation in Herodian , p. 275. In: Geza Alföldy: The crisis of the Roman Empire. Selected contributions . Stuttgart 1989, pp. 273-294.
personal data
SURNAME Herodian
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Herodianus; Herodianos
BRIEF DESCRIPTION historian
DATE OF BIRTH at 178
DATE OF DEATH at 250